Should Gender Stereotypes be challenged?

[Longhorn]

I agree with your opinion that stereotypes can cause much harm.
But doesn't that mean that we should ignore these stereotypes rather challenge them, so that people can have freedom to be who they want to be.
For example, we all know what a stereotypical male programmer looks like. Wouldn't it benefit a person to ignore this stereotype completely and choose how they want to be rather than making it a point to actively challenge the stereotype?
Why do you think it's better to challenge a stereotype rather than ignoring them?
In my opinion challenging a stereotype doesn't give freedom for a person to be who they are, but I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think anyone has argued here that we should 'go out of our way' to challenge the stereotypes. Most of the sentiments are that stereotyping is harmful and one should just be oneself, whether that entails defying or conforming to gender stereotypes notwithstanding.

I'm not sure who you're arguing against, especially seeing how you have not defined what is meant by challenging the stereotypes anywhere in this thread until now. Maybe if you had explained your question better this would be clearer, because the distinction you drew between ignoring and challenging stereotypes isn't an obvious one and these could easily be conflated.

[drfuzzy]

Heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke, and Alzheimer's are the top five causes of death in women. Feel free to make your point using factual information in the future. There's plenty to be said without making up statistics.

The more I read your post I'm starting to think you intentionally gave incorrect info as a joke that went over my head. If that's the case, then sorry.

No, actually you were right.  I needed to find those sources before throwing that out there.  And the "cause of death" that I remember reading, I THINK, (now that you have me questioning my memory - and quite rightly) said "cause of violent death".  Which is a different thing, of course.  I clearly remember an article that listed male on female homicide rates as much higher than death by car accident and higher than workplace accident - - but yes, now I need to go find that source . . .

[drfuzzy]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/48-t...d4bcc0705d

Back to stereotypes - - and how male and female stereotypical behaviors are ingrained by our culture, and how some of them are harmful.  Both videos are enlightening, IMHO.

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

I agree with your opinion that stereotypes can cause much harm.
But doesn't that mean that we should ignore these stereotypes rather challenge them, so that people can have freedom to be who they want to be.
For example, we all know what a stereotypical male programmer looks like. Wouldn't it benefit a person to ignore this stereotype completely and choose how they want to be rather than making it a point to actively challenge the stereotype?
Why do you think it's better to challenge a stereotype rather than ignoring them?
In my opinion challenging a stereotype doesn't give freedom for a person to be who they are, but I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a single person has argued here that we should 'go out of our way' to challenge the stereotypes. Most of the sentiments are that stereotyping is harmful and one should just be oneself, whether that entails defying or conforming to gender stereotypes notwithstanding. I'm not sure who you're arguing against, especially seeing how you have not defined what is meant by challenging the stereotypes anywhere in this thread until now.

[The Valkyrie]

Definitely they should be challenged. It's the 21st century, not the 19th

[Longhorn]

Pool, read the edit. You didn't explain what you mean by challenging the stereotypes in the OP. To me, one could challenge them precisely by ignoring them. The lines you're drawing are fuzzy, imo.

[Losty]

Just do you and don't let people tell you you can't because you have a hoo ha/peepee. That's my philosophy.

Pool, don't be dishonest. Vic may have voted for "should be challenged", but his comment makes it clear that it's only for lack of better poll options.

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

Just do you and don't let people tell you you can't because you have a hoo ha/peepee. That's my philosophy.

Pool, don't be dishonest. Vic may have voted for "should be challenged", but it his comment makes it clear that it's only for lack of better poll options.

I can understand his confusion. If he thinks stereotyping should be ignored then he should vote for "should not be challenged" or "Meh,Evie is best turtle"(If you like Evie xD) , you can easily edit you vote, I think.

[The Grand Nudger]

Is it?

Yes, clearly it is, because every direction in which you turn you will merely be called a sexist for it.  In case you didn't catch the game.  I'm not arguing with you....lol, I'm trying to keep you from stepping into the minefield in the first place by pointing out that it is, in fact, a minefield.  Pools fucking with you, just a little bit.....handing you a grenade and then smiling when it goes off in your hands.  Look at all the qualifiers you had to add to your previous statements......and if I (or he) wanted to rib you about those you'd be forced to add even more.

A strange game, the only way to win....is to refuse to play. Roger?

[Losty]

Pool, don't be dishonest. Vic may have voted for "should be challenged", but it his comment makes it clear that it's only for lack of better poll options.

I can understand his confusion. If he thinks stereotyping should be ignored then he should vote for "should not be challenged" or "Meh,Evie is best turtle"(If you like Evie xD) , you can easily edit you vote, I think.

None of your options were good for answering the question. The first choice is the best available option.